Towel cabinet



J. E. SCANLAND TOWEL CABINET 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed Aug. 14, 1964 N L i & QR N.- S. 8 g M R k w? NTWMTPIII R13 5.\Awf... 4 w k w x mm Q a w 2. m?

INVENTOR JOSEPH EUGENE SCAN LAND AZTOR 3,265,454 Umted States Patent ccm, 9, as,

clean roll. The towel takeup means may optionally be 3,265,454 set tomaintain a slight tension on the withdrawn towel TOWEL CABINET JosephEugene Scanland, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor to American Machine &Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 14, 1964, Ser.No. 339,692 (Zlaims. (Cl. 312-38) This invention relates to improvementsin towel dispensing apparatus and has for its principal object toprovide means operable by a user for obtaining successive lengths ofclean toweling, in combination with means controlled by theaforementioned means for causing each length to be automatically takenup after use.

The invention is applied to a type of cabinet in which a loop oftoweling is formed at the outside of the cabinet, in this embodiment ata place below and in front of the cabinet, although modified andequivalent apparatus is equally capable of accommodating the invention.

In known devices the soiled loop hangs from the cabinet in an unsightlyand objectionable condition until a new length of toweling is drawn, andthe main object of this invention is to cause the soiled toweling to bewhisked out of view a predetermined interval after being drawn for use.

In the present device, after the towel has been drawn out, the loophangs freely without any tension whatsoever. A usuable length, orpreferably a predetermined length of toweling can be withdrawn to hangfreely and be used for a predetermined length of time, at the end ofwhich it is promptly drawn up. The time period is selected fromcustomary usage requirements and may be easily varied.

Other objects are to provide a simple and efficient structure toaccomplish the above; to optionally provide means for preselecting thelength of toweling withdrawn; to provide simple means for releasing thetiming and length withdrawal apparatus to allowfree wheeling forcontinuous withdrawal and takeup of the towel, as when a new roll oftowel is to be installed; to optionally gain on the towel takeup meansto maintain a slight tension and neat appearance of the exposed portionof the drawn up towel; and other timing and towel locking operationalmeans to be described hereinafter.

To accomplish the foregoing, and for the purpose of obliterating theloop after each use, energy storing means, e.g., a coiled spring, isoperated during each clean towel dispensing operation to store energy,and means is provided to automatically release this energy apredetermined interval after the toweling is drawn, allowing such period for use, a timer being set for action during the clean toweldispensing operation and simultaneously with the energy storingoperation. Means are optionally provided to stop and lock the toweldispensing operation after withdrawing a preselected length of towel,although this feature may be omitted by removal of a simple lockingplate or cam without otherwise alter-ing the structure. The structurealso includes mechanism for operating the entire unit through theprimary action ofa lever actuated by towel withdrawal, and means areprovided for deactuating this lever and all timing and lockingoperations to permit continuous withdrawal and takeup of the towel whenremoving same as a used roll to be replaced by a for the sake ofneatness before a new length of toweling is withdrawn.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention, including details of combination and arrangement of parts andtheir equivalents, will be set forth in the following description withthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical transverse section through one side of a towelcabinet, and with the mechanism positioned as when the soiled towelingis taken up;

FIG. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the other side of thecabinet, illustrating chiefly the driving connection between certainrolls;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation of details of the timing and latchmechanisms at the beginning of the timing period for use of cleantoweling;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary and partly sectional front elevation of thecabinet, the towel not shown throughout; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on about the line 5 -5of FIG. 4.

The invention is embodied in a wall type of towel dispensing cabinet butthe invention of course may be applied to other envorinments andequivalent structures.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer casing 1 of the cabinet isprovided with suitable front doors 2, 3- which are respectivelypivotally hinged at 4, 5 to swing-upwardly and downwardly from thecabinet front. The doors in closed position define a slot 6 from whichclean toweling is drawn downwardly, the lower door 3 being provided atits upper edge with a transverse flange 7' over which the clean towelingpasses. The rear bottom of the cabinet is provided with an opening 8-upwardly through which the soiled toweling passes to a soiled toweltakeup roll. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the toweling when drawn occupiesthe freely hung looped position 9 (in broken lines), hanging down belowthe cabinet, and when automatically taken up the toweling fits snugly asat 10 around the front and bottom of the cabinet, preferably'under'slight tens-ion, as will be described. The towel is less than the widthof the cabinet and may be withdrawn by grasping the towel at oppositemargins beneath the flange 7.

Within the casing 1 is a plate metal housing which is composed of twovertical side plates 11, 12 parallel to and spaced from each side of thecabinet and extending from front to back of the cabinet. Each plate isprovided with a rear inwardly extending flange 13, 14 which are receivedbetween a back plate 15 and the rear wall 16 of the cabinet, theoverlapping parts being bolted as at 17. The front ends of the plates11, 12 are provided with outwardly extending flanges 18, 19 by whichthey are spaced from the upper cabinet door 2' by resilient spacers 20,21.

The top of the back plate 15 is slotted. at 22', 23 (FIG. 4) to bereceived over hooks 24, 25, and the lower endof the back plate isaccommodated in back wallrecesses 26, 27 (FIGS. 1 and 4), whereby allthe component parts of the apparatus mounted on back and side plates,may be simply and completely removed from the cabinet.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the back plate 15 is provided at anintermediate level with a pair of horizontal and inward configurations28, 29 sloping toward one another and then horizontally rearwardly at30, 31 to a mutual vertical wall 32 to define a passageway rectangularin cross-section through which a towel may pass upon being taken up. Apair of stiffener and wall support members 33, 34 are connected to thewall 32 of the groove 35 or to the side plates 11, 12 to make the wallstructure rigid.

Pivotally connected at 36, 37 to the low rearward portions of the sideplates 11, 12 are a pair of upwardly and rearwardly extending flanges38, 39, inwardly concave, and joining between them at their outer edgesan inwardly concave bent plate 40. This plate is notched at its upperedges at 41, 42 to be guided over stiffener legs 43, 44 in a swingablemotion. The plate terminates in a horizontal reversibly bent portion 45in the passageway 35, the used towel being slidable thereover. In thelower rear edges of side plates 11, 12 are provided substantiallyhorizontal T-shaped slots 46, 47 in which are entered slidable flanges48, 49 of horizontal flat bars 50, 51 extending along the outer faces ofplates 11, 12 forwardly of the cabinet, through slots 52, 53 of theflanges 18, 19 and terminating at the vicinity of the lower front door3. The flanges 48, 49 enter respective slots 54, 55 of the pivotablearcuate flanges 38, 39 and extend in front of the pivotable arcuateplate 40, to prevent a tensioned soiled towel portion drawn up behindthe plate 40 from swinging into contact with the supply roll 56 of cleantowel.

Extending between the side plates 11, 12 are a h0rizon tally spacedmeasuring or dispensing roll 57 and a takeup roll 58, a pinch roll 59associated with the dispensing roll 57, and a soiled towel storage roll60 associated with the takeup roll 58. Additionally, a gravity pressingplate 61 extends between the side plates 11, 12 in pivot holes 62, 63therein and has a downwardly biased end 64 on top of the pinch roll 59.Intermediate gravity plate guide lugs 65, 66 are received in arcuateslots 67, 68 of the side walls 11, 12.

Before further proceeding with this disclosure, it would be well todescribe the movement of the towel through the apparatus. To this end, aroll of clean towel 56 is placed on the base of the cabinet. From it thetowel extends upwardly between the dispensing roll 57 and the gravitybiased pinch roll 59, over the latter and out through the slot 6 infront of the cabinet, down and under the cabinet, up through opening 8,behind plate 40, around flange 45 in channel 35, and upward to soiledtowel roll 60 which is in engagement with the takeup roll 58. Thisdescription will be amplified after the remainder of the apparatus hasbeen described.

The measuring or dispensing drum or roll 57 is provided with end heads69, 70 which are secured to the drum 57 and fixed to stub shafts 71, 72which are respectively journalled in inwardly recessed cylindricalbearings 73, 74 in end plates 11, 12. Shaft 72 has a reduced extensionwhich mounts a sprocket wheel 75 fixed to the shaft by nut 76. Shaft 71has a reduced portion journalled and extending through a partialauxiliary end plate 77 adjacent end plate 11 and mounting a three-lobedcam or wiper 78 fixed to the shaft by nut 79. One lobe includes near itsperiphery a stop lug 88 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The pinch roll or drum 59 is smoothly surfaced and gravity biasedagainst the friction surface of dispensing drum 57. The drum 59 extendsbetween the side plates 11, 12 and includes end stub shafts 81, 82received respectively in the generally vertical shaft slots 83, 84 inthe end plates 11, 12. Bolted to forward side plate flanges 18, 19 arethe respective pinch roll retaining and slot forming brackets 85, 86.The combination of the friction measuring drum 57, pinch roll 59 andpressing plate 61 aid in positive and smooth delivery of clean towelingas it is pulled from the cabinet, and the friction surface of drum 57insures its rotation to operate the takeup roll 58.

The takeup roll 58 is a hollow drum extending between the side plates11, 12 and having a shaft 87 at its center. One end of the drum isprovided with a head 88 fixed to the drum and to a bushing 89 throughwhich the shaft 87 is journalled, and the shaft extends through aninwardly recessed bushing 90 and terminates in a sprocket wheel 91 fixedto the shaft by a nut 92. A sprocket chain 93 connects both sprockets 75and 91 whereby rotation of dispensing roll 57 upon withdrawal of cleantoweling will automatically rotate shaft 87 and store energy in a coiledspring 94 around shaft 87.

The spring 94 is received within shaft 87 at a bore 95 and at its otherend is pivoted into a bore in a takeup drum head 96 which is fixed to astub shaft 97. The shaft 87 is journalled in the stub shaft 97. Theshaft 97 has an extension journalled through an inwardly recessedbearing 98 of plate 11 and auxiliary plate 77 and terminates in aratchet wheel 99 fixed to the shaft by a nut 100.

The takeup roll 58 is friction surfaced and has in gravity biasedengagement with its top the soiled towel roll 60 which is provided withend shafts 101, 102 in respective sliding position in generally upwardslots 103, 104 in side walls 11, 12. This engagement permits usedtoweling to be drawn around the used towel roll when the energy storedin torsion spring 94 in roll 58 is released for the purpose.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, as well as the remaining views,the takeup roll 58, and its internal torsion spring 94 for storingenergy by which this roll is operated for takeup purposes, and means isprovided for controlling a timed release of the stored energy to quicklyattain soiled towel takeup, at the end of the timed period whichcorresponds substantially to the time occupied by the user in drying thehands or face.

Mounted on the side plate 11 is an oscillatable lever 105 which ispivoted at an intermediate point on a cap screw 106 threaded into wall11 and secured by nut 107. The lever is biased against the plate 11 by acompression spring 108 around the screw, and is generally horizontallydisposed. Its forward end is slotted to receive the bottom end of astern 109, held by a cotter-pin 110, of a piston (not shown) of a knowndashpot type of timer 111. The timer 111 is substantially vertical andmounted on plate 11 by a screw 112 about which the timer pivots underoscillation of lever 105 and the upward and downward movement of shaft109. An adjusting knob 113 is provided for adjusting the time in whichthe stem 109 is retracted to release the spring stored energy in take'uproll 58.

Slightly rearward of the forward end of the lever 105 is an upwardextension 114 which mounts a roller 115 which is associated with thelobes of the wiper cam 78, so that upon withdrawing a clean length oftoweling, the forward end of the lever 105 is cam urged downwardly bythe lobes to extend the shaft 109 of the timer 111 to set the latterinto actuation to retract the stem 109 after an adjustably selectabletime limit. This latter movement will release the torsion spring energyin takeup roll 58 to rotate the roll to retract the used toweling, aswill now be described.

The rear end of lever 105 is releasably cotter-pinned at 116 to thelower end of a substantially vertically upward extending link 117 whichat its upper end is coupled through a longitudinal lost motion slot 118to a horizontal lug 119, by means of a cotter-pin 120, of a pawl 121.The pawl is oscillatable about a bolt 122, and upon being pivoted to theright, as seen in FIG. 3, upon withdrawing a new length of toweling,engages and holds the ratchet wheel 99 to prevent rotation of the takeupdrum 58 and to store energy in the torsion spring 94 of said drum. Theratchet engaging shoulder 123 (FIG. 3) of the pawl temporarily holds theratchet wheel 99 and its drum 58.

The disclosure thus far is for a machine fully operable in the broadestsense. Upon withdrawal of a fresh length of new toweling, the dispensingroll 57 and its axial cam 78 are rotated counterclockwise (FIGS. 1 and3) to cause a cam lobe to wipe the roller 115 of lever 105 to pivot thatend downward to extend the stem 109 of the timer 111 for a preselectedtime interval. Simultaneously the rear end of lever 105 slides the link117 upward to actuate the shoulder 123 of pawl 121 into engagement witha tooth of the ratchet 99. The slot 118 in the link 117 permits lostmotion to maintain the pawl in engagement when the roller 115 rides overthe tip of a lobe on cam 78.

Referring to-FIGS. 2 and 5, the sprocket connection between shafts 76and 92 of the dispensing and takeup drum shafts permits rotation onshaft 87, although the drum 58 is held stationary by the pawl andratchet means, to torsionally store energy in coil spring 94. After aselected time interval, determined by the timer 111, the shaft 109 ofsaid timer moves upward to disengage pawl 121 from ratchet 99, whichcauses the energy stored spring to rotate the takeup roll 58 through itshead 96 and thus whisk up the used towel.

As a matter of caution, though the new towel roll 56 is simply installedand wound through the apparatus, it is always desirable to maintain aminimum degree of tension in the energy storing and takeup spring 94,and this is accomplished by hand tensioning the spring 94 by means ofratchet wheel 99, and then resting the used towel roll 60 on thefriction surface of the takeup roll 58 to always maintain at least theminimum spring tension. This assures a complete takeup of a usedtoweling. To promote this the sprocket 91 on the takeup roll 58 mayhave, for example, one less tooth than the sprocket 75 on the dispensingroll 57. This allows towel takeup with a little sliding friction betweenthe takeup roll 58 and used towel roll 60 to maintain the drawn up towelsnugly against the cabinet.

To assist in removnig used towel and installing a new towel, theapparatus may be set into free wheeling by disengaging the ratchetroller 115 of the lever 105 from the plane of the cam 78. Under thiscircumstance all the rolls are free to revolve and nothing in the way ofthe timing and towel latching means is operable. To accomplish this,there is mounted on the side wall 11 a lever 105 disengaging cam 124which is manually slidable up and down in mating grooves 125, 126, thisbeing accomplished by a cooperative slot 127 in plate 11 and mountingstud 128 received therein. The cam 124 is maintained in position byhaving its upward V-shaped portion 129 beneath the lever 105 at alltimes. An outwardly flared raised surface 130 is adapted upon raisingcam 124 to bias the lever 105 outwardly against its pivot spring 108 todisengage said lever from the cam 78, thus releasing everything for freewheeling.

An optional and often desirable feature in a device of this kind is theinclusion of means to automatically stop towel withdrawal after apredetermined length has been extracted. In this disclosure the meansare simple, effective and easily removed if not desired in anycircumstance.

Referring principally to FIG. 3, the means include a towel dispensingstop bracket 131 and the stop lug 80 on cam 78. The bracket is providedwith horizontal portions 132, 133 interconnected by a slantingintermediate portion 136. The horizontal portions are provided withhorizontally elongated slots 134, 135 and there is a forward contactarea 137 to stop the cam lug or pin 80, when the stop bracket is in theforward impeding position in relation to pin 80 to stop furtherwithdrawal of clean toweling.

The bracket slots 134, 135 are slidable respectively on a retaining pin138 in pawl 121 and on the stud mounting takeup roll nut 100. It isclear that the oscillation of the pawl 121 reciprocates the bracket 131between the towel stop position of FIG. 3 and the rearward toweldelivery position, the length of the bracket slots in relation to otherrelated apparatus dimensions permitting a certain length of toweling tobe Withdrawn before the bracket stopping action occurs.

To facilitate retaining the bracket 131 in either of its extremepositions, an off center tension spring 139 is utilized. The spring issubstantially vertically disposed for slight oscillation, the springbeing connected to the bottom of plate 11 at 140-, and terminating atits upper end in a connection 141 to the bottom of a link 142 having atop slot 143 receivable around pin 138 in pawl 121'. At the forwardstopping position of FIG. 3 and the retracted towel wheeling position ofFIG. 1, the spring is off center vertically and in bracket retainingposition.

The invention is subject to equivalent modifications, to those skilledin the art, Within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing a length of clean towel from a storedquantity of towel and automatically taking up a corresponding length ofsoiled towel comprising a clean towel dispensing roll, a shaft, a soiledtowel takeup roll rotatable mounted on said shaft, a spring connectingsaid shaft and said takeup roll and adapted to store energy as saidshaft is rotated independently of said takeup roll and thereby springbias said takeup roll in a predetermined direction, means coupling saidshaft and said dispensing roll for rotating said shaft as saiddispensing roll is rotated to dispense a length of clean towel, lockingmeans movable to lock and release positions for respectively preventingand permitting rotation of said takeup roll, linkage means connected tosaid locking means for moving said locking means to said lock andrelease positions, actuating means mounted on said dispensing roll forengaging said linkage means as said dispensing roll is rotated andmoving said locking means to said lock position during the toweldispensing operation, timing means connected to said linkage means formoving said locking means to said release position subsequent to thetowel dispensing operation and permitting said spring biased takeup rollto rotate and withdraw a corresponding length of soiled towel, and meansfor displacing said linkage means out of the path of said actuatingmeans and simultaneously maintaining said locking means in said releaseposition to thereby permit said dispensing and takeup rolls to rotatefreely and facilitate loading and removal of said quantity of towel.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said means coupling saidshaft and said dispensing roll includes means for angularly rotatingsaid shaft a greater amount than the corresponding angular rotation ofsaid dispensing roll whereby the portion of towel between saiddispensing and takeup rolls is maintained in slight tension upon thecompletion of the takeup operation.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said linkage meansincludes an oscillatable lever mounted on a pivot and adapted to belaterally moved thereon, and said actuating means comprises a rotary cammounted on said dispensing roll, said lever having a surface engageableby said cam during rotation of said dispensing roll, said lever beingspring biased to a position wherein said surface is engageable by saidrotary cam.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said linkage displacingmeans includes a slidable cam adapted to engage and laterally move saidlever on its pivot and against its spring bias to a position whereinsaid surface is not engageable by said rotary cam.

5. Apparatus for dispensing a length of towel from a stored quantity andthereafter taking up a corresponding length of towel comprising adispensing roll, a shaft, a hollow takeup roll rotatably mounted on saidshaft, a torsion spring disposed interiorly of said takeup roll andconnecting said roll to said shaft, means coupling said dispensing rolland said shaft for simultaneous rotation thereof, a ratchet mounted onsaid takeup roll, a movable pawl engageable with said ratchet to preventrotation of said takeup roll, cooperative means operable by saiddispensing roll for moving said pawl into engagement with said ratchetas said dispensing roll is rotated to dispense a length of towel and formoving said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet subsequent to saiddispensing operation to permit said takeup roll to rotate and withdraw alength of towel, and means for optionally rendering said cooperativemeans inoperative and simultaneously maintaining said pawl out ofengagement with said ratchet to permit said takeup roll to rotate freelyas said dispensing roll is rotated and facilitate loading and unloadingof said quantity of towel.

(3 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,100,72911/1937 Birr et al. 312-38 2,172,482 9/1939 Steiner et a1. 312382,899,251 8/1959 Birr -4 31238 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

I. PETO, Assistant Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING A LENGTH OF CLEAN TOWEL FROM A STOREDQUANTITY OF TOWEL AND AUTOMATICALLY TAKING UP A CORRESPONDING LENGTH OFSOILED TOWEL COMPRISING A CLEAN TOWEL DISPENSING ROLL, A SHAFT, A SOILEDTOWEL TAKEUP ROLL ROTATABLE MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, A SPRING CONNECTINGSAID SHAFT AND SAID TAKEUP ROLL AND ADAPTED TO STORE ENERGY AS SAIDSHAFT IS ROTATED INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID TAKEUP ROLL AND THEREBY SPRINGBIAS SAID TAKEUP ROLL IN A PREDETERMINED DIRECTION, MEANS COUPLING SAIDSHAFT AND SAID DISPENSING ROLL FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFT AS SAIDDISPENSING ROLL IS ROTATED TO DISPENSE A LENGTH OF CLEAN TOWEL, LOCKINGMEANS MOVABLE TO LOCK AND RELEASE POSITIONS FOR RESPECTIVELY PREVENTINGAND PERMITTING ROTATION OF SAID TAKEUP ROLL, LINKAGE MEANS CONNECTED TOSAID LOCKING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID LOCKING MEANS TO SAID LOCK ANDRELEASE POSITIONS, ACTUATING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID DISPENSING ROLL FORENGAGING SAID LINKAGE MEANS AS SAID DISPENSING ROLL IS ROTATED ANDMOVING SAID LOCKING MEANS TO SAID LOCK POSITION DURING THE TOWELDISPENSING OPERATION, TIMING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID LINKAGE MEANS FORMOVING SAID LOCKING MEANS TO SAID RELEASE POSITION SUBSEQUENT TO THETOWEL DISPENSING OPERATION AND PERMITTING SAID SPRING BIASED TAKEUP ROLLTO ROTATE AND WITHDRAW A CORRESPONDING LENGTH OF SOILED TOWEL, AND MEANSFOR DISPLACING SAID LINKAGE MEANS OUT OF THE PATH OF SAID ACTUATINGMEANS AND SIMULTANEOUSLY MAINTAINING SAID LOCKING MEANS IN SAID RELEASEPOSITION TO THEREBY PERMIT SAID DISPENSING AND TAKEUP ROLLS TO ROTATEFREELY AND FACILITATE LOADING AND REMOVAL OF SAID QUANTITY OF TOWEL.